Ultimatum set to stop hospital employees from picketing
Staff members at the Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital staged a protest action due to a lack of services at their workplace.
The management of Dr Yusuf Daddo Hospital has put an end to the protest demonstrations that employees staged during their lunch hour in September.
A memo on the hospital’s notice board signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Sofohlo warned employees that if they failed to adhere to the ultimatum to stop the illegal gathering and demonstrations within the premises of the hospital, disciplinary action would be taken against them.
The demonstrations were the result of staff members being upset about services at the hospital and not having their grievances such as the shortage of equipment addressed.
Jack Bloom, the DA Gauteng Health spokesperson said in a previous media statement that the employees also complained about incompetent managers, a broken switchboard that kept dropping calls, patients sometimes sleeping on the floor because of a bed shortage, a contractor failing to complete the new nurses residence and an electronic information board being left unfinished by a contractor.
The ultimatum on the notice board informs staff members that:
• Any gathering, picketing and/or demonstrations within the premises of the hospital without the expressed permission of the hospital management is illegal and unlawful
• Engaging in such activities is a breach of the Labour Relations Act, Criminal Procedure Act and other legislative prescripts that govern public servants and the general public
• These demonstrations affect quality of care and create psychological trauma to patients and the public
• The consequences are criminal in nature and cannot be tolerated
The NEWS is awaiting comment from Puseletso Mabidikame, the hospital’s spokesperson, regarding the situation.
